EPat in CF, anyone think I'm nuts?
My thoughts for 2008
In my opinion, the Cubs need to address the following needs for the 2008 season.
- A Right Fielder (preferably a lefty who is a legit #5 hitter)
- A #2 or #3 starter (another #4 wouldn't be so bad)
- A Short Stop
- A Center Fielder
If I could make a few realistic signings, I think my opening day roster would be:
- Soriano LF (R)
- E. Patterson CF (L)
- Lee 1B (R)
- Ramirez 3B (R)
- Fukudome RF (L)
- Soto C (R)
- DeRosa 2B (R)
- Cedeño SS (R)
- Zambrano P (L)
OF Jones (L)
OF Murton (R)
IF Theriot (R)
IF/OF Ward (L)
C Blanco (R)
Bullpen:
RHP Dempster
RHP Marmol
RHP Wood
RHP Howry
LHP Eyre
LHP Marshall
RHP Wuertz
Rotation:
- Zambrano
- Lilly
- Kuroda
- Hill
- Marquis
Then Kuroda. I'm skeptical about both potential Japanese talents, as you never quite know how things are going to transfer. But even if Kuroda turns into a decent #4, that's still a pretty respectable rotation, and I feel much more comfortable with Marquis as the 5th guy than the 3rd guy. Plus, I want to see if Marshall can be good in the pen, because he'd be a great long man / loogy. And he's always around as an insurance policy SP. I'm just not wild about 3 SPs who are southpaws, especially when their stuff is at least comparable.
Then there's CF. Most people are expecting EPat to be traded, I wouldn't be surprised. But among our in house CF options (Jones, Pie, EPat) I think that Patterson fills the lineup needs the most by far. They are all lefties, but I think the Cubs need one of them to be the #2 hitter, and Pie and Jones pale in comparison as a top of the order hitter next to Patterson. His ceiling may be lower than Pie, but Patterson appears to have just about reached it. I'd gladly take a .280 AVG with 10 HR and some SBs out of the 2 slot. He's a better base-stealer with a higher OBP than Jones, and he certainly seems more equipped than Pie to hit MLB pitching.
I also am not a huge fan of Jones as an everyday player. But as a 4th OF, I think he could be one of the best there is.
But wait... isn't Theriot the #2 hitter? I don't think Theriot is a starting SS. He's a good player, and I like him as much as anyone, but a guy with a .266 AVG, a mediocre OBP, no power, and OK defense isn't a starter unless you don't really have a better option. He's a GREAT backup SS/2B, but he's no starter. I think that Cedeño MAY have turned a corner, and he's earned one LAST shot at trying to be a MLB SS. Cedeño has a legit upside, whereas I think Theriot has a ceiling of .275 AVG, .350 OBP and 35 SBs accompanied by OK defense, which is again fine, but he'll be 28 when the season starts, he's not gonna develop other parts of his game now.
People have thoughts on this lineup, and Patterson and Cedeño in particular? I think I'm on the 'don't sign ARod bandwagon'. I don't think he can play a great SS anymore, and it seems like the clubhouse has a pretty good chemistry to it, I'd hate to disrupt it with a monster guy like ARod.
Again, I made my Patterson decision largely because I feel that good teams have lineup balance, and we've been far too right handed for a while now. We need a good top of the order lefty in CF. On that thought, I wouldn't be opposed to a one year stop-gap of Kenny Lofton playing CF and hitting 2nd, he'd be fine with me as well.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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17 comments
Comments
Putting aside the fact...
And for the record, I think we're watching different games. We must be. Cedeno looks like a career bench player. On bad teams. Theriot? Maybe.
by Damen Jackson on Oct 30, 2007 6:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, you're nuts, especially because...
Beyond that, I don't think he projects as a major league starter.
I agree with you on Fukudome and Kuroda and I hope the Cubs can sign both of them.
by Al on Oct 30, 2007 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree...
And I never intended to think of Patterson as a long term CF, but a cheap 1 year fill to buy Pie the time that I think he needs.
I guess my thing is that I think the lineup NEEDS a lefty at #2 and #5. Fukudome would fill the #5 slot, but neither Jones or Pie are #2 type hitters, whereas Patterson is. I'm sure Eric's defense is worse than Jacque and Felix, but from what I understand he's no butcher.
Again, I think Kenny Lofton on a one year tour would be fine as well in CF and hitting 2nd, but do people expect significantly better things from a Lofton than Patterson?
by WittyUserName on Oct 30, 2007 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see how Patterson buys time...
If you're looking for a short-term solution to buy time for Pie, we have that: Jones. Jones has shown he can provide mediocre offense and adequate defense in CF, and he's still fairly cheap. Otherwise, I think Pie is the guy who should be the everyday CF next year.
by SouthernCub on Oct 31, 2007 6:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
re: I don't see how Patterson buys time...
Are many Cubs fans seriously setting aside Pie in favor of EPat? I just don't understand that.
by dat cubfan daver on Oct 31, 2007 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
JJ
I agree that Theriot is not an everyday player. It's tough for an "energy guy", who relies on bursts of energy to be effective, to bring that to the table every day. However, I'm not convinced that Cedeno is any better -- though he does have better tools.
Seeing E-Pat in CF would be intriguing, but he has to solve his responsibility issues first.
My candidate to bat #2 in DeRo and his .371 OBA.
by DeRoMyHero on Oct 30, 2007 7:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes
by Kinky Reggae on Oct 30, 2007 7:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
who
by tbizzle83 on Oct 30, 2007 9:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Careful...
Thanks.
by Al on Oct 31, 2007 4:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again with the Jap stuff?
by Kinky Reggae on Oct 31, 2007 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
re: Again with the Jap stuff?
by dat cubfan daver on Oct 31, 2007 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pie
Oh.
... and A-Rod at short.
;-)
by initram on Oct 30, 2007 9:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
no
But since we are legitimate playoff contenders, Patterson should not have a role on next year's team. He either needs a year at Iowa to become a true outfielder (and potentially becoming a legitimate 4th/5th MLB OF) or be traded. If Hendry does not add a starting SS to the mix, then Cedeno and Theriot can compete for the starting spot and we bat Pie and Cedeno/Theriot 7 and 8 all year long and pray for our #6 hitter to clear the bases.
I am hoping that we don't go after Fukodome or Kuroda. Gallagher and Hart can compete for the final rotation slot, and I'd rather have Murton start in RF than Fukudome. Fukudome's numbers in Japan lie somewhere in between Akinori Iwamura and Hideki Matsui. Iwamura is a decent player, but his offensive production this past year isn't what we're looking for in a starting RF. And Matsui only slugged .435 as a 29 year old during his first year in MLB. Yes, this is a very limited comparison, but I don't think that Fukudome will be the impact player we're hoping he will be.
I do hope we find a better solution in RF and SS, we trade Jones, Marshall, and Patterson, Gallagher wins 10 games, and Pie's defense makes up for his offense.
by kranskie on Oct 31, 2007 12:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
no offense but if we have that opening day roster
by CubsBall2202 on Oct 31, 2007 1:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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